Weekly Site Roundup (06/21/04)
ARTICLE SPOTLIGHT
Who's Your PAL? - - An Overview Of Worldwide Video Standards
A relative living in the U.K. sends you a homemade VHS or DVD copy of a favorite BBC TV Show but it doesn't play correctly on your VCR or DVD player. You are traveling in Europe and you can't view your Camcorder footage on the Hotel TV. You are a victim of differing video standards in use throughout the world. Why is this? Just read the above article for all the details. Newly updated for 2004.
HOME ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY NEWS HEADLINES
HDNet Gains First-Run Cable HD Rights to the WB's Smallville (TMC Net)
Sony Turns On The Charm With Boutique Stores
New-Generation DTV Receiver To Make Possible Over-The-Air Reception With Simple Antenna (Widescreen Review)
DualDisc Hybrids Officially Approved by the DVD Forum (High Fidelity Review)
DirecTV Can't Sue For Gear Possession (CNET)
Pop-Out Video From Flat Displays (Forbes)
AQUOS 20-Inch LCD TV Takes PC, TV Sources (TWICE)
PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Gateway AR-230 DVD Recorder
If you are looking for a DVD recorder, and price is the major part of your buying decision, then you might want to consider the Gateway AR230. At a price of less than $300, this unit has some great features, such as DV R/ RW format recording, Firewire DV input for video dubbing from digital camcorders, and progressive output for increased quality on DVD playback. The AR-230 has all the basics to get you going in the world of DVD recording.
FEATURED LINKS THIS WEEK
Energy Speakers
Energy speakers presents its award winning product line for both home theater and audio purists.
Featured in the Loudspeaker Manufacturers A - E Category Page.
Acoustic Innovations
Complete home theater environmental design. You have the equipment, now let Acoustic Innovations create just the right setting for your home theater.
Featured in the Home Theater Install-Servcies A - H Category Page.
FROM THE HOME THEATER FORUM
DVD Burner Vs DVD Recorder
From WOZZER1:
Is there a difference in quality between a DVD made from a burner compared with one made in a recorder. Is one more reliable? I have an internal burner and use MYDVD but only seem to have a 50% success rate. Is the big difference the ability to create disks with menus via the burner route? I have 25 VHS tapes to convert to DVD and will consider a recorder if the quality there.
Join in on the discussion.
ELSEWHERE ON ABOUT.COM
Top Ten Inventions
What are the top ten inventions of modern times? Mary Bellis, About Guide To Inventors and Inventions has some ideas, what do you think?>
FROM THE MAILBOX
From J:
Thanks for your useful FAQ guide to DVD recorders. I have a further question. If I am recording my own DVDs, is it linear recording just like recording on a VHS or can I edit (i.e. to remove commercial breaks) and add chapters etc.. so I can , for example, skip to a particular episode if I have transferred a tv serial?
From Your Guide:
DVD recorders record audio and video in a linear fashion, and in real time, just like a VCR. You can use the record-pause method of editing, but that is cumbersome. In addition, you cannot change a DVD-R or DVD R format disc once you have recorded something on it (in other words you cannot backup to make corrections or erase)-- you would need to use DVD-RW or DVD RW to do editing (these discs can be erased or recorded over). Your best option, however, for editing on a DVD recorder is to get a unit with a built-in hard drive. In this way, you can record your video onto the hard drive, edit it to your liking, and then make a final copy onto DVD. Also, DVD recorders with hard drives can dub complete videos from the hard drive to a DVD in faster-than-real time, similar to a PC.
FINAL WORDS
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Audio Video Interiors (The Connected Guide To The Digital Home).
Home Theater Magazine.
Stereophile Ultimate AV.
Stereophile Magazine.
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